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GOP Rep Asks what White House is "Hiding" about Party Crashing Incident

5803574Democrats are insisting that the alleged "White House crashers," Tareq and Michaele Salahi, testify before a congressional panel this morning, but one Republican on the panel says the White House social secretary should have to answer questions about the security breach as well.

The chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee Bennie Thompson said he could subpoena the Salahis if they are not interested in voluntarily attending today's hearing regarding their ability to gain entry into the White House state dinner without any sort of invitation.

"The Salahis' testimony is important to explain how a couple circumvented layers of security at the White House on the evening of a State Dinner without causing alarm," Thompson said in a statement.

Secret Service Director Mark Sullivan agreed to testify this morning, but along with the Salahis, White House Social Secretary Desiree Rogers declined to appear. White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said yesterday that White House staff does not testify before Congress, based on the separation of powers.

An aide for Thompson said this morning that no decisions have been made on whether to subpoena Rogers, reports CBS News Capitol Hill Producer Jill Jackson.

Ranking Republican Peter King said Rogers' testimony is more important than the Salahis'.

"The White House should not be allowed to stonewall by refusing the Committee's request that Ms. Rogers testify," he said in a statement. "What is the White House trying to hide?"

If the committee does decide to subpoena Rogers or the Salahis, there could be another hearing on the matter.